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-The population is around 1.5 million
-About 150,000 tons of toxic chemicals have contaminated the water in the last 10 years
-Average life expectancy has declined from 64 to 51 years. Women and children are the most vulnerable.
-Infertility has increase, male infertility increased from 30-40% in the 1980s to 65% in the late 1990s.
-The change in water quality in the Aral Sea basin reduced the number of fish in the river and in the sea, and destroyed most of fauna.

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Most experts do not believe that the Aral Sea will ever be restored to its original size and health.

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In some regions that used to be under water, abandoned ships lay on the ground. Some have been lying there for more than 20 years

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In October 2014, the eastern sea disappeared, leaving just the Small Aral and the western basin.

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Average life expectancy is 66 years compared to 70 in Almaty (the capital).

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It was once the fourth largest lake in the world but due mostly to irrigation it has shrunk by 70%, from 67,000 square km in 1960 to 30,000 square km by 1996

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Only 160 of region's 310 bird species, 32 of 70 mammal species and very few of the 24 fish species remain

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The Aral Sea used to support a healthy population of muskrats, which are now gone. Muskrat trapping was a major industry, in addition to fishing.

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The water level has dropped approximately 23 meters since the onset of its primary sources of water being diverted (Zavialov 2005).

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Area used to employ 60,000 people in the fishing industry

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Entire ecosystem destroyed

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By 2007 Sea had declined to 10% its original size

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From 1960s sea started to retreat

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Loss of industry- lack of fish

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-Supplied 1/4 of the countries fresh fish.
-Was once the worlds 4th largest sea ( once 68,000km sq )
- The water level has dropped approximately 23 meters since the onset of its primary sources of water being diverted (Zavialov 2005)
-by 1970, the water loss exceeded the limit of natural water level variation that has occurred in the past.
-In the next decade, water level decreased by 57 cm/year, and afterwards the drop in water level started accelerating faster.

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-1/4

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http://www.columbia.edu/~tmt2120/environmental%20impacts.htmhttp://www.columbia.edu/~tmt2120/environmental%20impacts.htm

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Water diverted North to irrigate cotton fields

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Loss of jobs
Health impacts
Out migration